Atheist morality.

[Autumnleaf]

Someone was talking about this earlier and I brought up that the atheists I know seem to take a moral stand according to what is politically correct wherever they live. Am I missing something? Is there a moral standard around the world that atheists go by or is it true that their moral fiber is determined by prevailing political winds?

 

[abdAlSalam]

Someone was talking about this earlier and I brought up that the atheists I know seem to take a moral stand according to what is politically correct wherever they live. Am I missing something? Is there a moral standard around the world that atheists go by or is it true that their moral fiber is determined by prevailing political winds?

The phenomenon you are referring to is showing the effect that prevailing culture has on an individual's personal morality. See also the difference between American Christians and Christians in other parts of the world (or more pertinently, different areas of the U.S. itself). It has nothing to do with "political correctness" and everything to do with cultural and societal values.

 

[Cute Tink]

Someone was talking about this earlier and I brought up that the atheists I know seem to take a moral stand according to what is politically correct wherever they live. Am I missing something? Is there a moral standard around the world that atheists go by or is it true that their moral fiber is determined by prevailing political winds?

I do not base my morals on what is currently popular, no.

However, I cannot claim that I speak for or represent atheists in general.

I am interested in what makes you think that atheists base their moral standards on what is politically correct in their location. What is your basis for this belief?

 

[Cearbhall]

The phenomenon you are referring to is showing the effect that prevailing culture has on an individual's personal morality. See also the difference between American Christians and Christians in other parts of the world (or more pertinently, different areas of the U.S. itself). It has nothing to do with "political correctness" and everything to do with cultural and societal values.

This exactly. ^ An atheist's morality is influenced by culture, just like everyone else's morality. The way that I arrive at the belief that murder is wrong isn't really much different than the way that a Christian arrives at that conclusion. We just have different sources of reason.

 

[JGG]

Someone was talking about this earlier and I brought up that the atheists I know seem to take a moral stand according to what is politically correct wherever they live. Am I missing something? Is there a moral standard around the world that atheists go by or is it true that their moral fiber is determined by prevailing political winds?

You don't find that Christians in other parts of the world/country/state/county have beliefs about morality that differ from yours?

 

[High Fidelity]

The same can be said about most things, religion included.

People that grow up in Europe are typically more liberal than the US for example.

Similarly, people that grow up in a Christian family are more likely to be Christian than Muslim. I'd go as far as saying the majority of theists are theists because there was the expectation to be so from their family.

What and who we grow up around definitely has an impact on the life we live as well as what we consider right and wrong.

 

[Soul2Soul]

Someone was talking about this earlier and I brought up that the atheists I know seem to take a moral stand according to what is politically correct wherever they live. Am I missing something? Is there a moral standard around the world that atheists go by or is it true that their moral fiber is determined by prevailing political winds?

I do think that you are missing something.

 

[KCfromNC]

Someone was talking about this earlier and I brought up that the atheists I know seem to take a moral stand according to what is politically correct wherever they live. Am I missing something?

Yes. For example, the existence of politically conservative atheists.

Is there a moral standard around the world that atheists go by or is it true that their moral fiber is determined by prevailing political winds?

No.

 

[Nithavela]

Stoned any adulterers, lately?

No? Why? Because you deem it as immoral?

Guess what, christian morals have changed, too. (And that's a good thing.)

Why someone would see unchanging morals as something good is beyond me.

 

[keith99]

Stoned any adulterers, lately?

No? Why? Because you deem it as immoral?

Guess what, christian morals have changed, too. (And that's a good thing.)

Why someone would see unchanging morals as something good is beyond me.

Depends a lot on why morals change. If out of fear, or a desire to conform then changing is generally wrong.

But if there is a change because someone says, gosh I was wrong, it is generally good.

(Assuming honesty in both cases of course).

 

[CounselorForChrist]

The phenomenon you are referring to is showing the effect that prevailing culture has on an individual's personal morality. See also the difference between American Christians and Christians in other parts of the world (or more pertinently, different areas of the U.S. itself). It has nothing to do with "political correctness" and everything to do with cultural and societal values.

I agree but to me I am not sure why atheists bother having morals since they change them all the time. BTW this can apply to chrsitians too. How can something be moral if your constantly shifting your view on it. Today killing is bad, tomorrow its not, the next day its bad again. Granted that an overblown example for example sake.

I'm someone that believes stand for what you believe in and NEVER change your mind on it. Especially as a christian where our morals have already been told to us on how we should view things. Id rather die fighting for what I believe then to compromise. Because once you start compromising and changing, then you can't be taken seriously.

One example is in marriage. If I dated a woman who lets say her whole life believed looking at porn was a sin, but then suddenly changed her mind on it. I would dump her and never talk to her again. If she can change her mind on one thing (a thing we know is a sin), whats to stop her from changing her mind once married about things like divorce, cheating, spending alot of money...etc. I have no trust in people who change their mind and morals all the time.

Mind you I am referring to changing their mind on important things like if porns a sin or not. I'm not referring to things like someone deciding to eat a burger instead of a hotdog obviously.

Actually as I think about this. I remember many atheists say christians are weak and robots and its why they cling to religion. But technically aren't atheists the same "weak robots"? They let the world and culture decide whats moral for them. THey follow it blindly when it becomes popular opinion. They may say "But things like science are what we go by...logic!". But thats always changing which means you are also. So therefor you follow something to.

Technically this could turn into that other topic about is science a religion. Glad to know until the day I die my beliefs won't change. Thats not to say they won't teeter on the edge like if I had something tragic happen to me.

 

[Cute Tink]

I agree but to me I am not sure why atheists bother having morals since they change them all the time.

Actually as I think about this. I remember many atheists say christians are weak and robots and its why they cling to religion. But technically aren't atheists the same "weak robots"? They let the world and culture decide whats moral for them. THey follow it blindly when it becomes popular opinion. They may say "But things like science are what we go by...logic!". But thats always changing which means you are also. So therefor you follow something to.

Echoing earlier post. Atheist here. Morals not changing willy nilly here.

Still haven't seen any backup for the concept that these darn crazy atheists are constantly changing their moral outlook with the winds.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Someone was talking about this earlier and I brought up that the atheists I know seem to take a moral stand according to what is politically correct wherever they live. Am I missing something? Is there a moral standard around the world that atheists go by or is it true that their moral fiber is determined by prevailing political winds?

I am part of my culture, which influences my morality, but my morality is not determined by the culture, the prevailing political winds, or political correctness.

Morality is subjective, and thus different people (and different atheists) will have different moral views on particular issues.

 

[Paradoxum]

Someone was talking about this earlier and I brought up that the atheists I know seem to take a moral stand according to what is politically correct wherever they live. Am I missing something?

I'd think it would be more true to say that most people believe whatever the common opinion is... that's why it's the common opinion in that country. I don't see why it has anything to do with atheism in particular.

Is there a moral standard around the world that atheists go by or is it true that their moral fiber is determined by prevailing political winds?

Neither probably. Atheists are probably influenced by culture... like everyone else, but they also make their own minds up too.

 

[BuffaloJack]

The problem I see, is that atheists have no real justification for believing any act to be more or less moral than any other act.

Richard Dawkins expressed it when he stated that the idea that rape is wrong is just as arbitrary as evolving with 5 fingers instead of 6. Which, according to atheist philosophy, makes every moral view equally arbitrary.

So, just as it wouldn't be "wrong" if humans had 6 fingers instead of 5, atheist philosophy dictates it would also not be "wrong" if we decided rape was moral. It would not be "wrong" if we decided random killings were moral. It would not be "wrong" if we decided child porn was moral.

 

[Nithavela]

That's the darndest thing about some people, they change their minds when new informations are represented. Good to hear you are more resistant than that, Counselor.

 

[selfinflikted]

The problem I see, is that atheists have no real justification for believing any act to be more or less moral than any other act.

Richard Dawkins expressed it when he stated that the idea that rape is wrong is just as arbitrary as evolving with 5 fingers instead of 6. Which, according to atheist philosophy, makes every moral view equally arbitrary.

So, just as it wouldn't be "wrong" if humans had 6 fingers instead of 5, atheist philosophy dictates it would also not be "wrong" if we decided rape was moral. It would not be "wrong" if we decided random killings were moral. It would not be "wrong" if we decided child porn was moral.

You're wrong about most of the above - mainly because there is no "atheist philosophy."

When will people get this through their heads? I am so tired of having to repeat this, ad nauseam.

 

[BuffaloJack]

You're wrong about most of the above - mainly because there is no "atheist philosophy."

When will people get this through their heads? I am so tired of having to repeat this, ad nauseam.

But that's the whole point, that's exactly the problem. Atheism allows *anything* to be moral. Atheism allows *anything* to be immoral. It's up to your own atheist opinion to do whatever you want with no justification to judge the actions of anyone else as moral or immoral. That's the whole point of "arbitrary".

 

[keith99]

That's the darndest thing about some people, they change their minds when new informations are represented. Good to hear you are more resistant than that, Counselor.

Personally it is someone who will not change their thinking when presented with new evidence that I would not trust.

 

[selfinflikted]

But that's the whole point, that's exactly the problem. Atheism allows *anything* to be moral. Atheism allows *anything* to be immoral. It's up to your own atheist opinion to do whatever you want with no justification to judge the actions of anyone else as moral or immoral. That's the whole point of "arbitrary".

That's not true at all. Atheists get their morals mostly from the very same places Christians get theirs - although you will be hard pressed to find a Christian who will admit as much.

I wager atheists and Christians have far more in common morally, than not.